Impact of Fire on a Rainforest Remnant Dominated by Nothofagus moorei in Eastern Australia

Aims This study explores the mechanisms of impact of severe fire on Nothofagus moorei forest, assesses species' sensitivity to fire and identifies fire‐related challenges for conservation managers. Location Eastern New England Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Methods Forest climates were monitored for 2 years post‐fire. Attributes of forest structure, survivorship and regenerative traits were measured for every tree for 3 years. Results Nothofagus moorei , Elaeocarpus holopetalus and Trochocarpa montana were all severely impacted by high fire intensity, but the role of regenerative traits differed between species. Canopy loss greatly increased the risks and timeframe of forest recovery. The burnt‐outlier population of N. moorei showed low genetic diversity and a weakly positive inbreeding coefficient. Conclusions If present fire regimes persist, remnant communities of microthermal rainforest will reach a non‐recoverable condition. The tension between disturbance frequency and species persistence traits presents significant challenges for conservation managers.